Crown with Thy ben е dic tion This cove nant of love;

And make this hal-lowed un- ion Fore-taste of heaven above:

Let pure and per-fect glad-ness, Let pure and perfect rest,

And peace that knows no sadness, Thy presence, Lord, at-test.

536 8, 6. 8L

H. J. Gauntlett, 1805-76

Lord, who at

Cana's wedding feast Didst as a guest ap- pear,

d.

Thou dear-er far than earth-ly guest, Vouch-safe Thy pres-ence here;

For

holy Thou in deed dost prove The mar-riage vow to

be,

Proclaim -ing it a type of love Between the Church and Thee.

2 The holiest vow that man can make,

The golden thread in life,

The bond that none may dare to break,
That bindeth man and wife;

Which, blessed by Thee, whate'er betides,
No evil shall destroy,

Through care-worn days each care divides,
And doubles every joy.

3 On those, who now before Thee kneel,
O Lord, Thy blessing pour,

That each may wake the other's zeal
To love Thee more and more;

O grant them here in peace to live,

In purity and love,

And, this world leaving, to receive
A crown of life above.

Adelaide Thrupp, 1853

2 O happy home, where two in heart united
In holy faith, and blessed hope, are one,
Whom death a little while alone divideth
And cannot end the union here begun!

3 O happy home, whose little ones are given
Early to Thee, in humble faith and prayer,

To Thee, their friend, who from the heights of heaven
Guides them, and guards with more than mother's care!

4 O happy home, where each one serves Thee, lowly,
Whatever his appointed work may be,

Till every common task seems great and holy,
When it is done, O Lord, as unto Thee!

5 O happy home, where Thou art not forgotten,
When joy is overflowing, full and free;

O happy home, where every wounded spirit
Is brought, Physician, Comforter, to Thee,-

6 Until at last, when earth's day's work is ended,

All meet Thee in the blessed home above,

From whence Thou camest, where Thou hast ascended,
Thy everlasting home of peace and love!

C. J. P. Spitta, 1833

538

11, 10. 4L.

4

Arr. fr. J. Barnby, 1889

per-fect Love,' all hu-man thought transcending, Low-ly we

2 O perfect Life, be Thou their full assurance

Of tender charity and steadfast faith,

Of patient hope, and quiet, brave endurance,
With childlike trust that fears nor pain nor death.

3 Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
Grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife,
And to life's day the glorious unknown morrow
That dawns upon eternal love and life.

Dorothy F. Bloomfield, 1883